Overcoming obesity as a teenager

The adage "just eat less and move more," is probably going to be the last straw. If it was that simple, no one would be in trouble. Being a teenager, to put it simply, is a tough job. There are the school, the possibility of not making a decision about what’s for dinner and the presence of junk food all around. This is a "no-nonsense" guide to improving your situation without going insane.

1. Stop Hating Your Favorite Foods The quickest way to mess up is to declare, "No more pizza for me!" Your craving for it will be stronger than ever and you will eat the whole box.

The Real Fix: Take the "Add, Don't Subtract" principle. Have your pizza and at the same time eat an apple or a big bowl of carrots. You still get to eat pizza but you will eat less of it naturally because you are not starving when you start. 2. The "Boredom" Trap The majority of us do not eat because our stomachs are empty; we eat due to boredom, stress or while wandering through social media on our phones.

The Real Fix: Before you help yourself to a snack, question yourself: "Am I hungry enough to eat an orange?" If the reply is negative, then you are just bored. Try playing a game or texting a friend for 5 minutes to see if the craving disappears. 3. You Don't Need the Gym Going to the gym can be uncomfortable and it costs money. However, you do not need a treadmill to stay in shape.

The Real Fix: Consider what you are already doing. Do you walk to the bus stop? Walk a bit quicker. Do you play video games? Stand up while playing. It might seem insignificant, but "fidgeting" and moving around in your room actually consume more energy than a 30-minute workout that you dislike over time. 4. The "Second Helping" Secret It takes your brain about 20 minutes to catch up with your body and to know that it is full.

The Real Fix: Serve yourself a plate, then wait 15 minutes before going for more. If you are still very hungry after that, go for it. Most of the time, you will notice that the feeling of "starving" has subsided.

5. Be Your Own Best Friend

You probably say things to yourself that you would never say to a friend. If you mess up and eat a bunch of junk, don't spend the rest of the night calling yourself names.

The Real Fix: Just say, "Well, that happened," and move on. One meal doesn't make you healthy, and one meal doesn't make you unhealthy. It’s what you do most of the time that counts.